Automatic actuator for spray containers



M h 1964 P. s. VOSBlKlAN ETAL 3,127,060

AUTOMATIC ACTUATOR FOR SPRAY CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 17, 1962 INVENT Feezik kn A'ITORNEY United States Patent "ice 3,127,060 AUTOMATIC ACTUATORFOR SPRAY CONTAINERS Peter S. Vosbikian, Melrose, and Thomas S.Vosbiklan,

Philadelphia, Pa. (both of 1315 W. Cumberland St,

Philadelphia, Pa.)

Filed Oct. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 231,234 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-70) The purposeof this invention is to devise a novel automatic actuator for spraycontainers, which is particularly adapted for use in large rooms,auditoriums, and the like, in order to sterilize or deodorize or freshenthe air in such confined spaces.

A further object of the invention is to devise novel means to actuatethe spray cap of a spray container at predetermined intervals, andwherein a timed controlled solenoid is provided with an actuator tocontact the spray cap of the spray container.

With the foregoing and other objects in View as will hereinafter appear,our invention comprehends a novel automatic actuator for actuating thespray cap at predetermined intervals to cause the spray material to besprayed into a selected confined space.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, we have shown in theaccompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of it which we have foundin practice to give satisfactory and reliable results. It is however tobe understood that the various instrumentalities of which the inventionconsists, can be variously arranged and organized, and the invention isnot limited, except by the scope of the appended claims, to the exactarrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein setforth.

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of an automatic spray actuator embodying ourinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation, partly broken away for the sake ofclearness of illustration.

FIGURE 4 is a Wiring diagram.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings:

The actuator has a base 1, provided with an upstanding plate 2 on whichis mounted an angle bracket 3, having a bottom portion to support aspray container, and having spring arms 4 to receive the spray container13 and retain it in an upright position. The angle bracket is adjustableon the plate 2, the bracket having bolts and wing nuts 6. The bolts areadjustable in a slot 5, in the plate 2. An insulating bracket 7 is alsomounted at the upper end of the plate 2 by bolts and wing nuts 9. Thebolts are adjustable in slot 8 of the plate 2.

A solenoid 10 is mounted at the upper end of plate 7 in any suitablemanner, and is provided with a U shaped bracket 11 fixed to itsarmature, so that when the arma- Patented Mar. 31., 1964 ture movesdownwardly it will contact and actuate the spray cap 12 of the container13.

It is to be understood that the U shaped bracket attached to thesolenoid shaft is simply a continuation and part of the shaft. The Ushaped bracket has been shown for use with a type of solenoid where theshaft is not extended below the body portion of the solenoid.

An electric motor 14 drives a reducing gear 15, which is provided withan actuating arm 16 to actuate a push button switch 17 in an electriccircuit 18 which is in series with the solenoid 10.

In the operation, assuming that the electric circuit has been connectedwith a source of electric supply, the actuating arm 16, during itsrevolution, closes the circuit through the push button switch 17 toenergize the solenoid 1i) and cause the U shaped bracket 11 to actuatethe spray cap 12 and cause the spray material in the spray container 13to be sprayed into a room.

It will be apparent that the support for the spray container isadjustable to receive spray containers of different sizes, and thesolenoid is also adjustable above the spray container to properlyposition it relatively to the spray cap of the spray container.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. An automatic actuator for spray containers having a controllingvalve, comprising, a base, a first plate extending upwardly from saidbase, a support on said plate for an aerosol spray container, aninsulating plate adjustably mounted on said first plate, a solenoidcarried by said insulating plate, a U shaped bracket having its upperend connected with the armature of said solenoid and having its lowerend laterally positioned to be positioned above the valve of the spraycontainer to move the same valve actuating and valve non-actuatingposition with respect to the container and an electric circuit connectedto said solenoid and adapted to be connected with a source of electricsupply, said circuit including means to automatically close and open thecircuit at predetermined intervals.

2. The actuator defined in claim 1, wherein the support for the spraycontainer is vertically adjustable on said first plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,675,137 Sauvage June 26, 1928 2,583,688 Dobkin Jan. 29, 1952 2,686,944Gubelin Aug. 24, 1954 2,948,437 Nielsen Aug. 9, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS1,251,814 France Dec. 12, 1960 OTHER REFERENCES Snow: Abstract ofapplication Serial No. 773,725, pub lished Nov. 28, 1950, 640 0.6. 1371.

1. AN AUTOMATIC ACTUATOR FOR SPRAY CONTAINERS HAVING A CONTROLLINGVALVE, COMPRISING, A BASE, A FIRST PLATE EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAIDBASE, A SUPPORT ON SAID PLATE FOR AN AEROSOL SPRAY CONTAINER, ANINSULATING PLATE ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FIRST PLATE, A SOLENOIDCARRIED BY SAID INSULATING PLATE, A U SHAPED BRACKET HAVING ITS UPPEREND CONNECTED WITH THE ARMATURE OF SAID SOLENOID AND HAVING ITS LOWEREND LATERALLY POSITIONED TO BE POSITIONED ABOVE THE VALVE OF THE SPRAYCONTAINER TO MOVE THE SAME VALVE ACTUATING AND VALVE NON-ACTUATINGPOSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE CONTAINER AND AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONNECTEDTO SAID SOLENOID AND ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED WITH A SOURCE OF ELECTRICSUPPLY, SAID CIRCUIT INCLUDING MEANS TO AUTOMATICALLY CLOSE AND OPEN THECIRCUIT AT PREDETERMINED INTERVALS.